Equipment rack with lighting

ABSTRACT

An equipment rack is described with an integrated lighting system. The integrated lighting system may connect to the vehicle&#39;s electrical system to provide tail light, brake light, hazard, reverse light, and turn signal functions. The lighting system may include an automatic connection for lighting attached to a rack extension when the rack extension is attached to a base rack. The lighting may also be visible on a pivoting rack when the rack is stowed or in use to carry bicycles. The lighting elements may be disposed on or inside the equipment rack and may be provided with internal wiring to connect the lights to the vehicle&#39;s electrical system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/686,008 filed Nov. 15, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

This disclosure is in the field of equipment racks for carryingequipment, such as bicycles, on a vehicle. The disclosure relates todevices and systems for providing lighting on the equipment racks tomake them safer and more secure.

Description of the Related Art

Equipment racks for vehicles, such as bicycle racks, are typicallysecured to the rear of a vehicle. They may be left in place for longperiods of time and may obscure the operational lights attached to therear of the vehicle.

These racks often pivot from an operational configuration when they areused to carry equipment, to a stowed configuration where they are foldedup or otherwise reconfigured when not in use. These racks are often lefton a vehicle permanently because the rack is conveniently stowed out ofthe way when not in use.

Some equipment racks also receive removable extensions to increase thecarrying capacity of the rack. These racks are typically large and mayfurther obscure the operational lights of the vehicle to which they areattached. This may be especially true when the lights are in the stowedconfiguration.

Some disclosures have included lights attached to an equipment rack.However, these disclosures are for lights on an equipment rack that arenot visible in the proximity (such as rearward of) a vehicle when therack is in both operational and stowed configurations. Furthermore, nodisclosures have taught lights attached to or integrated with aremovable extension for an equipment rack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the lighting system for an equipment rack comprise alight emitting element attached to the equipment rack, where the lightemitting element is visible in the proximity of the vehicle when theequipment rack is in both the stowed configuration and the operationalconfiguration. In some embodiments, the light emitting element iscontrolled by the vehicle and may be electrically connected to thevehicle. In preferred embodiments of the lighting system, the lightemitting element is visible from behind the vehicle in both the stowedconfiguration and the operational configuration. In various embodiments,the light emitting element is controlled by the vehicle to function as atail light, turn signal, brake light, hazard light, or reverse light forthe vehicle.

The lighting system may also include a lens that directs a first portionof the light emitted by the light emitting element in a first directionand a second portion of the light in a second direction. In someembodiments the lens scatters the light emitted by the light emittingelement over an arc. In a preferred embodiment the arc may besubstantially 90 degrees.

In some embodiments, the lens is disposed at an angle to the equipmentrack so that a portion of the light emitted by the light emittingelement is directed in a substantially horizontal direction when theequipment rack is in either the stowed configuration or in theoperational configuration. In other embodiments, the light emittingelement is disposed at an angle to the equipment rack so that a portionof the light emitted by the light emitting element is directed in asubstantially horizontal direction when the equipment rack is in thestowed configuration and in the operational configuration.

In some embodiments, the equipment rack comprises a base rack forattachment to the vehicle and a removable rack extension for attachmentto the base rack, wherein the light emitting element is attached to theremovable rack extension, the integrated lighting system furthercomprising a connector that connects the light emitting element to thebase rack when the removable rack extension is attached to the baserack.

In other embodiments, an integrated lighting system for an equipmentrack attached to a vehicle, comprises a base rack and a removable rackextension, the integrated lighting system comprising a light emittingelement attached to the removable rack extension, and a connector thatconnects the light emitting element to the base rack when the removablerack extension is attached to the base rack. In some embodiments, alight emitting element may be attached to the base rack. In a preferredembodiment, the light emitting elements are controlled by the vehicle tofunction as a tail light, turn signal, brake light, hazard light, orreverse light for the vehicle. In some embodiments, the electricalconnector comprises a first electrical contact disposed on the baserack, and a second electrical contact disposed on the removableextension rack, wherein the first electrical contact automaticallyconnects to the second electrical contact when the removable rackextension is attached to the base rack. The lighting system may furthercomprise an electrical conductor that connects the light emittingelement to the second electrical contact, wherein the electricalconductor is disposed inside the removable rack extension.

In some embodiments of the integrated lighting system, the lightemitting element is disposed on the equipment rack at an angle withrespect to the horizontal plane. The equipment rack may have a stowedconfiguration and an operational configuration, with some embodiments ofthe lighting system providing that the light emitting elements arevisible in a rearward direction from the vehicle when the equipment rackis in the stowed configuration and the operational configuration.

In some embodiments of the invention, the lighting system is for anequipment rack attached to a vehicle, the equipment rack having aplatform for a bicycle extending outwardly from a support member,wherein a first and a second side of the platform are removable from thesupport member, the integrated lighting system comprising a first lightemitting element attached to a first side of the platform, a secondlight emitting element attached to a second side of the platform, wherethe first and second light emitting elements are electrically connectedto the support member by an electrical connector that automaticallyconnects when the first and second sides of the platform are attached tothe support member. In some of these embodiments, the equipment rackfurther comprises a removable extension rack having a platform for abicycle, the integrated lighting system further comprising a third lightemitting element and a fourth light emitting element attached to theremovable rack extension, an electrical connector that automaticallyelectrically connects the third and fourth light emitting elements tothe support member when the removable rack extension is attached to thesupport member. In some of these embodiments, the equipment rack has astowed configuration and an operational configuration, wherein the lightemitting element is visible in the proximity of the vehicle when theequipment rack is in the stowed configuration and in the operationalconfiguration.

In some embodiments the invention comprises an equipment rack for avehicle, the equipment rack comprising a configurable hub attached tothe vehicle, a support member attached to the configurable hub, and alight emitting element attached to the support member. In some of theseembodiments, the configurable hub pivots from a first configuration to asecond configuration, and the light emitting element is visible in theproximity of the vehicle in both the first and second configurations. Insome of these embodiments, the equipment rack the equipment rack furthercomprises a removable rack extension for attachment to the supportmember, and the light emitting element is attached to the removable rackextension. In some embodiments, attachment of the removable rackextension to the support member connects the light emitting device to anelectrical system of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle rack incorporating anembodiment of the actuated arm mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bicycle rack incorporating anembodiment of the actuated arm mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bicycle rack incorporating anembodiment of the actuated arm mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of theactuated arm mechanism.

FIG. 11B is a top view of an additional embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 11C is a side view of an additional embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 11D is a side view of an additional embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 11E is a side view of an additional embodiment of the actuated armmechanism.

FIG. 12A is a front view of a tire chock used with an embodiment of theactuated arm mechanism.

FIG. 12B is a side view of a tire chock used with an embodiment of theactuated arm mechanism.

FIG. 12C is a front view of a tire chock used with an embodiment of theactuated arm mechanism.

FIG. 12D is a side view of a tire chock used with an embodiment of theactuated arm mechanism.

FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of theassembly.

FIG. 13B is a perspective view of a tire chock used with an embodimentof the assembly.

FIG. 14A is an end view of an embodiment of the assembly with anlighting system in a stowed configuration.

FIG. 14B is an end view of an embodiment of the assembly with anlighting system in a deployed configuration.

FIG. 14C is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the assembly withan lighting system.

FIG. 14D is a perspective view of an embodiment of the assembly with anlighting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The improved bicycle rack described herein provides an actuated arm toallow for easier loading and unloading of a bicycle onto the rack. Therack is provided with one or more pivotal arms that can be adjusted tosecure the bicycle on the rack. The arms in the improved bicycle rackare provided with actuators that assist the user in opening, closing,and adjusting the arms to secure the bicycles on the rack. The specificembodiment of a bicycle rack shown in the figures is not limiting of thescope of the invention but is an example of how the invention may beused in a bicycle rack.

When the arms 104 of the rack 100 are in the stowed position folded downagainst the platforms 102 as shown in FIG. 1, a user may activate one ofthe actuators 110 to cause the actuated arm 104 to pivot to an openposition such as that shown in FIG. 2. Each actuated arm 104 may beoperated independently of the other actuated arms 104, and in somecases, there may only be one actuated arm 104 on the rack 100. Once thenecessary actuated arms 104 are in the open position a bicycle may beloaded onto the platforms 102, typically by placing the tires of thebicycle on opposing platforms 102.

The actuator 110 allows the user to pivot the actuated arm 104 backtoward the stowed position without releasing or disengaging the actuator110. Thus, the user may pivot the arm 104 back toward the rack with onehand until the arm 104 or the optional tire chock 108, is in contactwith a bicycle tire or frame in a desired position thus securing thebicycle on the rack 100. In the depicted embodiment, the side arms 112extend on either side of each tire of the bicycle to allow the tirechock 108 to contact a desired portion of the bicycle. When the user isunloading the bicycle, the actuator 110 may be actuated by the usercausing the actuator 110 to pivot the arm 104 back to the open positionaway from the bicycle. In some embodiments the actuated arm 104 mayrotate past the open position to allow a ramp to be attached to the rackfor loading electric bicycles or other heavy bicycles.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an embodiment of a bicycle rack assembly 100 havingseveral actuated arms 104. Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective viewof a bicycle rack 100 is depicted with actuated arms 104 in a closed orstowed position. In this embodiment of the assembly, the rack 100provides support for two bicycles simultaneously, however in othersystems using embodiments of the rack 100 there may be space for onlyone bicycle or for more than two bicycles. In some embodiments ofbicycle rack assemblies that use the inventive actuator arm only oneactuated arm 104 is provided on each part of opposing platforms or trays102, and the opposing end of the bicycle may be secured using adifferent mechanism for securing the bicycle on the rack 100, such as afixed bracket or a ratchet strap to hold the tire on the platform ortray 102. The different mechanism may also comprise a support frame forreceiving a portion of the bicycle frame, a cradle for receiving a tireof the bicycle, a fixed cage for retaining the tire and wheel of abicycle, or any other suitable type of bicycle rack.

In this embodiment, the rack 100 is supported by a drawbar 101 which isdesigned for attachment to a receiver hitch of a vehicle, however inother embodiments of the rack 100 it may be designed for attachment to avehicle by straps or other similar attachments, or to a vehicle rooftoprack system, or in other embodiments it may not even be designed formounting on a vehicle (such as a garage storage system). A supportmember 103 is attached to or formed as part of the drawbar 101. In thedepicted embodiment the support member 103 is mounted to the drawbar 101by an optional pivotal attachment mechanism.

In the depicted embodiment each bicycle on the rack 100 is supported byopposing platforms 102 extending outward from the support member 103. Inthis embodiment, an actuated arm 104 is attached at the outer end ofeach platform 102 by a pivotal attachment 106. A user releases (oractuates) the actuators 110 on the opposing platforms 102, causing theactuators 110 to extend and the arms 104 to pivot to the open position.A bicycle is then placed with one tire on each platform 102, and thearms 104 are pivoted toward the bicycle and adjusted to contact theframe or tires of the bicycle to secure it on the rack. The actuators110 are provided with a latch mechanism that automatically engages asthe arms 104 are pivoted toward the bicycle, so that the arms 104 cannotreopen until the latch mechanism is again released or disengaged by theuser.

In the depiction in FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuated arms 104 are shown in aclosed position and open position, respectively. When a bicycle is notstored on the rack 100, the actuated arms 104 are typically pivoted tothe closed position to protect the rack assembly 100 from damage, toreduce wind noise and drag, and to allow access to the rear of a vehiclewithout removing the rack assembly 100 from the vehicle. When a userdesires to place a bicycle on the rack 100, the user pivots theappropriate actuated arm 104 to an open position or at least far enoughtoward the open position so that the tire of a bicycle may be placedonto the platform 102. The user then pivots the actuated arm 104 backtoward the tire or bicycle frame until contact is made between aretention component such as tire chock 108 on the arm 104 and thebicycle sufficient (in conjunction with other components of the bicyclerack assembly) to hold the bicycle on the rack 100.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the platforms 102 comprisestructural supports with a wheel tray or cradle on the upper surface ofthe platform 102. The actuator 110 is pivotally attached to both theplatform 102 and the actuated arm 104 of the rack assembly 100. In thedepicted embodiment each arm 104 is formed from two side members 112 anda cross member 114 near or at the outer end of arm 104. This designallows a side member 112 to be positioned on each side of the bicycletire when it is on the rack assembly 100. In some embodiments the arm104 may only have one side member 112.

The actuators 110 may vary in specific function in different embodimentsof the invention. The embodiments depicted in the figures utilize a gasspring to provide an extension force to pivot the arm 104 toward theopen position. In other embodiments, the opening force may be providedby a different mechanism such as a compression spring. The actuator 110is also provided with a latch mechanism that prevents the arm 104 frompivoting away from the platform 102 while allowing the arm 104 to pivottoward the platform 102 without restraint. In this context pivoting“away” from the platform connotes an increasing angle between theplatform 102 and the arm 104. Conversely, pivoting “toward” the platformconnotes a decreasing angle between the platform 102 and the arm 104.For purposes of this description, the angle between the arm and theplatform is measured from the surface of the platform on which thebicycle tire will rest.

In the depicted embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arm 104 ispivotally attached to the platform 102 at a point near the outer ends ofarms 104. In some embodiments the arm 104 may be attached at any pointalong the length of frame 102. The pivotal attachments 106 used in therack 100 may be accomplished by pivot pins, bolts, bearings, bushings,rods, brackets, a combination of the foregoing, or any other device ormethod of attachment known for pivotal connections.

FIGS. 3-8 depict one embodiment of the actuator 110. In the depictedembodiment, the actuator 110 comprises an extendable mechanism 116 (suchas a gas spring having a cylinder 124 and piston 118) that is pivotallyattached to the platform 102 at a first end thereof, and pivotallyattached to actuated arm 104 at a second end thereof. The actuator 110is designed to extend thus exerting an opening force on actuator arm 104that will cause it to automatically pivot to an open position unless itis held in another position by an opposing force.

In some embodiments, the opposing force may be provided by a separatemechanism, referred to herein as a latch mechanism, attached to thebicycle rack separately from the actuator. In other embodiments, thelatch mechanism may be part of the actuator 110, attached to theactuator 110, or otherwise incorporated into the actuator 110 or itsstructure.

The latch mechanism selectively opposes the force exerted by theactuator 110 to prevent the actuated arm 104 from further extension oropening unless a user releases the latch mechanism. When the latchmechanism is in a closed position it prevents the actuator 106 fromextending beyond its current position. Once a user moves the latchmechanism to an open position, the unopposed opening force exerted bythe actuator 110 on actuated arm 104 causes it to pivot away from theclosed position to an open position as shown in FIG. 2.

In various embodiments, the latch mechanism may require the user to holda trigger, a button, or other release mechanism or member in an openposition to allow the actuator 110 to extend, and when the user releasesthe release mechanism, it may immediately engage the latch mechanism andstop further extension of the actuator 110. In a preferred embodiment,once a user triggers the release mechanism it may remain open until theactuator 110 extends to a predetermined extension or for a certainperiod of time, and then the latch mechanism may engage to hold theactuator 110 at a certain desired length of extension. In variousembodiments, the latch mechanism is designed to allow a user to releasethe latch mechanism and cause the actuated arm 104 to pivot to the openposition with a single hand. In preferred embodiments the latchmechanism is designed to allow the user to cause the actuated arm 104 topivot from an open position to a locked position against a bicyclewithout re-actuating the release mechanism.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3-8, the latch mechanism isincorporated into the mechanism of the actuator 110. In otherembodiments, the actuator 110 and the latch mechanism may be provided asseparate components. In the depicted embodiment the latch mechanismcomprises a ratchet and pawl system to hold the actuator 110 in adesired position, and a release component that the user operates torelease the ratchet so that the actuator 110 may extend as desired. Inthis embodiment, when the user presses the release component theactuator 110 automatically extends from its current position to anextended position such as that shown in FIG. 2, thus causing actuatedarm 104 to pivot from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to the openposition shown in FIG. 2.

The maximum extension of actuator 110 may vary in different embodimentsof the bicycle rack and actuator 110. In some embodiments the actuator110 extends to a length that causes actuated arm 104 to pivot to an openposition that is displaced between 90 and 180 degrees from the closedposition against platform 102. The latch mechanism may be closed at anypoint in the extension range of the actuator 110 so that the actuatedarm 104 may be fixed at any angle between the closed position and theopen position. This allows the actuated arm 104 to be fixed in a desiredposition against a bicycle tire or frame to secure the bicycle on therack 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 8, cross-sectional views of anembodiment of an actuator 110 along its length are depicted at variouspositions and configurations. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the actuator110 in a retracted, engaged configuration. FIG. 4 shows the sameembodiment of the actuator 110 in a retracted, disengaged configurationjust after a user has disengaged the latch mechanism of the actuator110. FIG. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view with some perspective ofthe latch mechanism of the embodiment in the same configuration as FIG.4. FIG. 6 depicts the same embodiment of the actuator 110 in anextended, disengaged configuration, just before the latch mechanismautomatically re-engages at the nominal full extension point. FIG. 7depicts a detail view of the latch mechanism of the actuator 110 in thesame configuration as FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a detail cross-sectional view ofthe latch mechanism in an extended, engaged configuration.

In the description of the figures and the embodiments, the terms“extended” and “retracted” refer to whether the actuator 110 has alonger or shorter length, respectively. The term “engaged” refers to theconfiguration where the latch mechanism is engaged to hold the actuator110 at its current length. The term “disengaged” refers to theconfiguration where the latch mechanism is disengaged so that theactuator 110 is free to extend under the force of the spring or otherextending force.

This embodiment of the actuator 110 partially comprises a spring thatexerts an extending force to pivot the arm 104 into an open position,unless countered by another force to prevent extension. The depictedactuator 110 comprises a gas spring but in other embodiments of theactuator 110, the gas spring may be replaced with another kind ofextension spring that will tend to cause the actuator 110 to extend tothe extended, open position.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-8, the opposing ends of the actuator110 are provided with attachment brackets 122 and 126 to allow theactuator 110 to be pivotally attached to different components of therack 100 at each end thereof. The first bracket 122 is attached to theouter tube or housing 128 of the actuator 110. The gas spring 116 inthis depicted embodiment operates in the manner of known gas springs. Agas spring body or cylinder 124 and gas spring shaft or piston 118,disposed in a channel in the cylinder 124, provide the extending forcefor the actuator 110. The gas spring shaft 118 attaches at a first end120 to bracket 122. The gas spring cylinder 124 fits inside housing 128and slides in and out of the housing 128 as the actuator 110 extends andretracts. The gas spring cylinder body 124 is disposed inside tube 125that is attached to bracket 126 that is pivotally attached to actuatedarm 104. In some embodiments the cylinder body 124 may slide within tube125 as shown by FIGS. 5 and 6, showing the space 127 created between thecylinder body 124 and the bracket 126 as cylinder body 124 slides withintube 125.

In this embodiment, the latch mechanism comprises a linear ratchet 130and a pawl 134. In some embodiments the linear ratchet 130 is attachedto the cylinder 124 of the gas spring 116 or the tube 125 as shown inFIGS. 5, 6, and 7, among others. The linear ratchet 130 comprises aseries of ratchet teeth angled toward the bracket 126. The pawl isattached to the housing 128 on a release member or actuator 136. Therelease actuator 136 in this embodiment comprises a movable collar thatis pivotally attached to the housing 128, in this case by attaching itto a collar 132 fixed on the housing 128. The pawl 134 and releaseactuator 136 cooperate to engage and disengage the ratchet pawl 134 fromthe linear ratchet 130 to prevent or allow the extension of the gasspring 116.

In the engaged configuration shown in FIG. 3, the tooth of ratchet pawl134 engages one of the ratchet teeth of linear ratchet 130 and preventsthe extension of the gas spring 116. When a user depresses releaseactuator 136 toward the housing 128, the release actuator 136 pivots andpulls the ratchet pawl 134 away from linear ratchet 130. In thisdisengaged position the gas spring 116 is allowed to extend to thedesired open position. In this embodiment the ratchet pawl is pivotallyattached to the release actuator 136 so that it can pivot slightly toallow its tooth to travel over the teeth on linear ratchet 130 as theactuator 110 retracts, while not pivoting when the actuator extends. Inthe depicted embodiment, the range of this pivoting is controlled by thearm extending from the opposite side of the ratchet paw 134 whichcontacts portions of the release actuator 136 at the desired range ofmotion. In other embodiments, the ratchet pawl may have a semi-flexibletooth.

In this embodiment, when the release actuator 136 is depressed theratchet pawl 134 will stay disengaged from the ratchet strip 130 untilthe gas spring 116 reaches a pre-determined extension, at which time itwill automatically re-engage the ratchet pawl 134 and linear ratchet130. In this embodiment the release actuator 136 is kept in thedisengaged position by detent component 138 which is attached to therelease actuator 136. The detent 138 includes a tang or flange 140 thatextends adjacent to an aperture with edge 144 of the housing 128. In thedepicted embodiment the detent 138 is attached to the release actuator136 by a pin and may pivot slightly so that the detent tang 140 may passthrough the aperture in housing 128 and catch the edge 144 of housing128. In other embodiments the detent 138 may be formed as part of therelease actuator 136 or may be a flexible component instead of pivotallymounted to the release actuator 136. In this embodiment the detent 138has a detent lever 146 that contacts an inner surface of the releaseactuator 136, and a detent tang 140 that extends toward the aperture inhousing 128. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the release actuator 136 ispivoted to disengage the pawl 134, the detent tang 140 captures the edge144 of housing 128 to hold the release actuator 136 in the disengagedposition. In this embodiment the detent tang 140 has a lip or protrusionthat extends through the aperture in the housing 128 and presses againstthe inside of the housing 128 adjacent to edge 144.

In this embodiment a biasing mechanism 142 is provided to bias therelease actuator 136 toward the engaged position. In the disengagedposition, biasing mechanism 142 also holds the edge 144 against thedetent tang 140 by applying a force that tends to pull the detent tang140 against the inside surface of the housing adjacent to edge 144. Inthis embodiment the biasing mechanism is a torsion spring with arms thatpress outwardly in opposite directions against an inner surface ofrelease actuator 136, or as shown in FIG. 8 the detent lever 146, and anouter surface of housing 128.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the embodiment of the actuator arm 110 isshown just as it reaches its desired maximum extension. The detent tang140 is still hooked on edge 144 of housing 128, however it is now incontact with a stop member 148 that is attached to the cylinder body124, or in the depicted embodiment to tube 125. As the gas spring 116extends, the cylinder 124 extends out from housing 128. When the stopmember 148 contacts the detent tang 140 the stop member 148 pushes thedetent tang 140 off of the edge 144. Once the detent tang 140 no longerengages the edge 144, the biasing mechanism 142 causes the releaseactuator 136 to pivot back to the engaged position as shown in FIG. 8.In some embodiments the outer housing 125 of gas cylinder 124 may beprovided with a longitudinal groove for receiving the stop member 148.In those embodiments, the stop member 148 may be movable within thegroove to adjust the position at which the actuator 110 willautomatically re-engage the ratchet pawl of the latch mechanism.

In the depicted embodiment a limit screw 150 is removably attached tothe housing 125 of cylinder body 124. This limit screw 150 prevents theactuator 110 from extending beyond a desired maximum extension even if auser disengages the latch mechanism and manually pushes arm 104. In thisembodiment the limit screw 150 may contact the ratchet pawl 134 or somepart of housing 132 when the user attempts to overextend the actuator110. In some cases, such as loading a heavy bike using a ramp, it may bedesirable to pivot one or more of the arms 104 to the position shown inFIG. 9, where they are rotated more than 180 degrees from the closedposition shown in FIG. 1. Removal of the limit screw 150 allows a userto disengage the latch mechanism and manually pivot the arm 104 beyondthe normal limit of extension, including past 180 degrees. Once theactuator 110 is within its normal operating extension in the positionshown in FIG. 9 the actuator 110 can be operated using the latchmechanism as described above. FIG. 10 depicts a cross-sectional view ofthe actuator 110 with the arm 104 in the over-rotated position.

In some embodiments of the latch mechanism, the device does notincorporate a powered actuator such as the gas spring 116. In theseembodiments the cylinder body 124, housing 128, the latch mechanism, andthe other components of the actuator function in the same way, exceptwhen the latch mechanism is disengaged a user must manually apply forceto the arm 104 to move it to an open position. The latch mechanism stillfunctions to remain disengaged while the arm 104 opens to a desiredposition, and to automatically re-engage and stop further outwardpivoting of the arm at the desired position. The arm may still berotated “over-center” as shown in FIG. 9. The only difference is thatthe movement of the arm is powered by the user. In some of theseembodiments, the latch mechanism may only remain disengaged while theuser presses the release actuator 136, or it may remain engaged until adesired position is reached by the arm 104 or the extending connectorhas extended to a desired position, just as with the powered actuator110.

In these embodiments without a powered actuator, the actuator withoutthe gas spring or other force-applying components may be referred to asan extending connector 110, because its function is to connect the arm104 to the tire tray 102 and to control the relative positions of thosetwo components. The latch mechanism may function the same as in theother embodiments, but when the latch is disengaged the extendingconnector 110 does not move the arm 104 by its own power. A user mustapply force to the arm 104 to cause it to pivot toward the opendirection.

An alternative embodiment of the rack with the actuated arm is depictedin FIGS. 11A through 11E. In this embodiment the gas spring housing 128is fixedly attached to the platform 102 by brackets 122 and 152. The endof housing 125 of cylinder body 124 is attached at bracket 126 to alinkage arm 154. The linkage arm 154 is pivotally attached at its endsto the bracket 126 and the actuated arm 104. In this embodiment, theactuator 110 and release actuator 136 operate in the same manner as theprevious embodiment. When a user depresses the release actuator 136 inthe closed position shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, the cylinder body124 begins to extend and pushes linkage arm 154 and arm 104 through apivotal motion shown in FIG. 11D to an open position shown in FIG. 11E.

In other embodiments, different latch mechanisms may be used to controlthe extension of the spring and the actuator. For example, afriction-based mechanism may be utilized to control the extension andretraction of the actuator. In some of these embodiments, a retentionmember is pivotally mounted on the housing of the gas spring. Theretention member is provided with a frictional interface, or surface,that selectively contacts the outer surface of the gas cylinder toprevent it from moving. A release lever may be attached to the retentionmember to allow a user to pivot the retention member and release thecylinder.

In other embodiments of the actuator 110 the latch mechanism may utilizea collet and tapered sleeve inside the gas spring to prevent extensionof the actuator. The collet may be slidably attached to the spring shaftand biased with a compression spring to push the collet away from thegas spring body toward a tapered sleeve. The tapered sleeve is providedin connection with the gas spring body. The compression spring pushesthe collet against the tapered sleeve creating a bind between thecollet, the spring shaft, and the tapered sleeve, thus preventing theextension of the actuator. A release mechanism may comprise a componentthat slidably pushes the collet away from the tapered sleeve to releasethe gas spring.

In some additional embodiments of the bike rack 100 the latch mechanismis not attached to the actuator 110 but to another part of the rack 100.For example, a rotational ratchet may be fixedly attached to theactuated arm at its pivot point so that the rotational ratchet and theactuated arm pivot together. A pawl and release lever may be provided bypivotal attachment to the platform 102 of the rack 100. The pawl andrelease lever engage the rotational ratchet to prevent rotation of theactuated arm in one direction while permitting it in the otherdirection. A release mechanism is provided to release the ratchet andpawl so that the arm can be pivoted in both directions when desired.

Adjustable Tire Chock

In some embodiments of the bicycle rack 100, the actuated arms 104 areprovided with adjustable tire chock components 108 that contact thebicycle tires when the bicycles are secured on the rack 100. The tirechocks 108 are generally visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, but are shown in moredetail in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D. The tire chocks are slidablyadjustable along the length of the actuated arms 104. In the depictedembodiment, the body of tire chock 108 is formed from one or more piecesof plastic or other suitable material.

The tire chocks 108 have a body with features, apertures, or slots thatslidably engage the side members 112 of the actuated arm 104 to keep thetire chock 108 in the right orientation to the arm 104. The body 108 ofthe tire chock is provided with grooves or other features to support andguide at least one retractable pin 156 that selectively engages the arm104 to hold the tire chock in a desired position on the arm 104. Thepins 156 are preferably attached to one or more release actuators 158 toallow a user to retract the pins 156 from engagement with the arm 104.The actuated arms 104 are provided with one or more apertures or holes160 to receive and engage the retractable pins 156.

In the depicted embodiment the two retractable pins 156 are disposedopposite one another on the tire chock body. In this embodiment the usersqueezes the two release actuators 156 toward each other tosimultaneously retract both pins 156. A biasing mechanism such ascompression spring 162 may be provided to bias the retracting pins 156to move outwardly into the engaged position. In FIG. 12C the tire chockbody 108 has been cut-away to show the spring 162 that is disposed in acavity inside the tire chock. The release actuators may be actuated by auser with one hand so that the other hand may be used to hold a bicyclewhile the tire chock is adjusted.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show front and side views, respectively, of the tirechock on the actuated arm 104. In those figures the retractable pins 156are extended into apertures 160 on the arm 104 and retain the tire chock108 in that position with respect to the arm 104. FIGS. 12C and 12Ddepict front and side views, respectively, of the tire chock when thepins 156 have been retracted by squeezing the actuators 158 together,and then sliding the tire chock partially down the arm 104 toward thenext set of apertures 160. This allows a user to adjust the actuated arm104 to fit different sizes of bicycle tires.

The tire chock 108 and the platform or tray 102 may be provided withcontoured surfaces to provide improved grip on the tires of bicyclessecured on the rack 100. Referring to FIG. 13A, a cross-sectional viewof the tire platform 102 is depicted. The upper surface 164 of theplatform 102 has areas of concave and convex curvature, and longitudinalridges 166 at various locations on the surface 164. In the depictedembodiment, the narrowest concave area in the center of the platform 102may be designed to have a width between the closest ridges 166 that fitsa tire for a road bicycle. The width between the next set oflongitudinal ridges 166 may be approximately that of a hybrid tire or amountain bike tire. In some embodiments the outermost ridges may bespaced apart approximately the width of the tires of a fat tire bike.The placement of concave areas with longitudinal ridges providesimproved gripping performance to prevent unwanted movement of the tireon the rack. Other arrangements of ridges 166 may be utilized that arespaced apart more or less than the width of a typical tire.

Similarly, the tire chock 108 may be provided with a tire-contactingsurface 168 with ridges 170 that extend in the same general direction asthe tire when the bicycle is secured on the rack 100. These ridges 170may be separated by concave surface areas sized to fit certain biketires. In some cases, the intervening surface areas may alternatebetween concave shapes where a tire will contact the tire chock, andeither convex, flat, or angled surfaces where the tire will notsubstantially rest on the platform 102. The surface 168 may be generallyangled from front to back of the tire chock 108 so that when theactuated arm is pivoted toward the tire, the surface 168 will beapproximately tangential to the bicycle tire.

Lighting System

In some embodiments of the inventive bicycle rack, the rack may beprovided with an lighting system. This lighting system may provideincreased visibility and safety during operation of the vehicle to whichthe rack is attached. In some embodiments the integrated lighting systemis attached to, powered, and controlled by the electrical system of thevehicle. In some embodiments it may provide turn signal indicators andbrake signal indicators, in addition to passive lighting.

Referring now to FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, and 14D an embodiment of a bicyclerack with the lighting system is depicted. In this embodiment, thelighting system is electrically connected to the vehicle's electricalsystem by any electrical connector typically used to connect a trailerto a vehicle, such as a 4-pole flat connector. Each pin may provide aseparate electrical connection for power or control signals. In otherembodiments, other types of electrical connectors may be utilized withmore or fewer electrical connections, or multiple electrical connectorsmay be utilized, all within the scope of the present invention. In someembodiments, the integrated lighting system may be provided with anintegrated power source such as a battery, solar panel, or other devicefor electrical power storage or generation. In some embodiments, awireless connection may be utilized to connect the integrated lightingsystem to the vehicle for purposes of power delivery or control signalconnection.

In various embodiments, the lighting system comprises one or more lightemitting elements 172. In the depicted embodiment two light emittingelements 172 are provided on opposing platforms 102, and two areprovided on opposing platforms 102 on a rack extension attached to thebase rack. In some embodiments these light emitting elements 172 may belight emitting diodes or other similar devices, although the specifictype of light emitting element 172 is not limiting of the scope of theinventive system. In a preferred embodiment of the system the lightemitting elements 172 are disposed inside one of the support members 102of the bicycle rack, although in some embodiments the light emittingelements 172 may be disposed on or in the outer surface of the supportmembers 102. In the depicted embodiment, the light emitting elements 172are disposed inside the support member 102 and an aperture is providedin the support members 102 to allow light from the light emittingelements 172 to be visible in a desired direction.

In some embodiments, the light emitting elements 172 may comprisedevices with attached lenses. In some embodiments, a separate lens orcover may be provided in addition to any integrated lens on the lightemitting element 172. The lens may be designed to prevent water, dust,dirt, or other foreign matter from getting into the support member 102.In some embodiments, the lens may be designed to focus, scatter, orspread light from the light emitting elements in a desired manner, suchas a Fresnel lens. In some embodiments, the lens may act only as a coverwithout substantial impact on the light from the light emitting elements172. The lens may be transparent, translucent, or any desired opacity.Furthermore, the lens may be clear, or any desired color. In a preferredembodiment, the lens is highly translucent for red light, i.e. it is ared lens.

In some embodiments, the light emitting elements are electricallyconnected to the electrical connector by a wiring harness comprising oneor more electrical conductors 200. In some cases, the power to the lightemitting element 172 may be of varying voltages to generate varyinglevels of brightness. In other cases, the power to the light emittingelement 172 may be intermittent to cause the light emitting element toflash or blink. In other embodiments and as electrical and lightemitting devices are further developed, the light emitting devices maybe controlled by digital signals transmitted with the power source orseparately. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may includelight emitting devices that are not connected via a wiring harness butare wirelessly connected to a control component in the rack or directlyto a vehicle. Similarly, such devices may have integrated power storageor generation, and may be digitally controlled by the vehicle or acontrol component on the rack.

Referring now to FIG. 14C, a cross-sectional view of an embodiment ofthe rack 100 with an integrated lighting system is depicted. In thisembodiment of the rack 100, the platforms 102 are removably attached tothe frame member 103. The electrical wiring 174 in the platform 102 isconnected to spring-loaded terminals 178, while electrical wiring 200 inthe support member 103 is connected to spring-loaded terminals 176,allowing the platform 102 to be installed on and removed from the member103 without damaging the wiring or requiring any additional steps ofconnecting wires. FIG. 14D depicts the location of the terminals 176 onthe platform 102 when it is disconnected from the support member 103. Ascan be seen in FIG. 14D, a single bolt may be utilized to hold the tiretray 102 onto the sport member 103.

Similarly, the rack extension 102 is removably attached to the base rackassembly 100. In a preferred embodiment, a electrical connection to therack extension is made using a similar quick connect device to thatshown in FIG. 14C, with one terminal disposed on the distal end of thesupport member 103 and the other attached to the proximal end of theextension support member for the rack extension. The electricalterminals may be disposed on internal members of each of the supportmembers, facing each other at the connection between the members,similarly to the disposition of the terminals on the tire platformsconnected to the support member 103.

The rack extension may be repeatedly installed and removed from the baserack assembly 100, so the use of electrical connections thatautomatically connect is an important component of the system. Althoughmanual connections may be utilized on some embodiments, preferredembodiments of the system will utilize electrical connectors thatautomatically connect as the rack extension is attached to the base rackassembly. For example, these connections include “pogo pins” or othertypes of spring-loaded electrical connectors, or even flat ormetal-on-metal connectors may be used in some embodiments.

In some of the embodiments of the bicycle rack with the integratedlighting system, the rack may be provided with support members thatrotate or pivot from an operational configuration (such as shown in FIG.14B) to a non-operational configuration (such as shown in FIG. 14A). Inthe operational configuration, the rack may be used to support one ormore bicycles. In the non-operational configuration, the rack is notdisposed to support a bicycle but may be a folded or raisedconfiguration so that it extends a shorter distance behind a vehiclethan in the operational configuration. The non-operational configurationmay be more convenient, safer, or require less space than theoperational configuration. In some embodiments of the rack with theintegrated lighting system, the system is designed so that light fromthe light emitting elements 172 is visible from behind the vehicle whenthe rack is in both operational and non-operational configurations. Forexample, this would allow the integrated lighting system to function asvehicle turn signal indicators when the rack is in use in theoperational configuration to carry a bicycle and when it has beenpivoted upward to the non-operational storage configuration.

In some embodiments the light visibility in both configurations requiresa portion of the light from each light emitting element 172 to betransmitted in multiple directions, or at least substantially in twodirections, so that the light is visible in both configurations. Thevisibility in both configurations may be provided by a lens designed toreflect a portion of the light in two different directions, or a lenswith two different areas designed to reflect light differently, ormultiple lenses to reflect a portion of the light from a single lightemitting element 172 in multiple directions.

In the depicted embodiment, the light emitting element 172 is disposedon a chamfered edge of the platform 102 between the two desireddirections of light transmission. Therefore, some light from the lightswill be visible in either operational or non-operational configuration.In the depicted example, the general direction of light transmission inthe operational configuration is substantially perpendicular to thedirection of light transmission in the non-operational configuration. Inthe depicted embodiment the light emitting element 172 is disposed in adirection that is substantially half way or 45° between the two generaldirections of light transmission. A chamfer surface is provided in thesupport member 102 to allow light from the light emitting source 172 tobe transmitted through the aperture over a range of directions thatencompasses both desired directions of transmission.

Changes may be made in the above methods, devices and structures withoutdeparting from the scope hereof. Many different arrangements of thevarious components depicted, as well as components not shown, arepossible without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described withthe intent to be illustrative and exemplary of the invention, ratherthan restrictive or limiting of the scope thereof. Alternativeembodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do notdepart from its scope. Specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one of skill in the art to employ thepresent invention in any appropriately detailed structure. A skilledartisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementionedimprovements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Notall steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in thespecific order described.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A lighting system for an equipment rackattached to a vehicle, the equipment rack capable of being reconfiguredfrom a stowed configuration to an operational configuration, thelighting system comprising: a light emitting element attached to theequipment rack; wherein the light emitting element is visible in theproximity of the vehicle when the equipment rack is in the stowedconfiguration and in the operational configuration; wherein the lightemitting element is visible from behind the vehicle in the stowedconfiguration and the operational configuration without repositioningthe light emitting element with respect to the equipment rack; andfurther comprising a lens that scatters the light emitted by the lightemitting element over an arc that is substantially 90 degrees.
 2. Thelighting system of claim 1 wherein the light emitting element iscontrolled by the vehicle to function as a tail light, turn signal,brake light, hazard light, or reverse light for the vehicle.
 3. Thelighting system of claim 1 wherein the lens is disposed at an angle tothe equipment rack so that a portion of the light emitted by the lightemitting element is directed in a substantially horizontal directionwhen the equipment rack is in the stowed configuration and in theoperational configuration.
 4. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein thelight emitting element is disposed at an angle to the equipment rack sothat a portion of the light emitted by the light emitting element isdirected in a substantially horizontal direction when the equipment rackis in the stowed configuration and in the operational configuration. 5.An integrated lighting system for an equipment rack attached to avehicle, the equipment rack comprising a base rack and a removable rackextension, the integrated lighting system comprising: a light emittingelement attached to the removable rack extension; and a connector thatconnects the light emitting element to the base rack when the removablerack extension is attached to the base rack; and wherein the connectorcomprises a first electrical contact disposed on the base rack, and asecond electrical contact disposed on the removable extension rack,wherein the first electrical contact automatically connects to thesecond electrical contact when the removable rack extension is attachedto the base rack.
 6. The integrated lighting system of claim 5 furthercomprising a light emitting element attached to the base rack.
 7. Theintegrated lighting system of claim 6 wherein the light emittingelements are controlled by the vehicle to function as tail light, turnsignal, brake light, hazard light, or reverse light for the vehicle. 8.The integrated lighting system of claim 2 further comprising anelectrical conductor that connects the light emitting element to thesecond electrical contact, wherein the electrical conductor is disposedinside the removable rack extension.
 9. The integrated lighting systemof claim 5 wherein the light emitting element is disposed on theequipment rack at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane.
 10. Theintegrated lighting system of claim 5, the equipment rack having astowed configuration and an operational configuration, wherein the lightemitting elements are visible in a rearward direction from the vehiclewhen the equipment rack is in the stowed configuration and theoperational configuration.
 11. A lighting system for an equipment rackattached to a vehicle, the equipment rack having a platform for abicycle extending outwardly from a support member, wherein a first and asecond side of the platform are removable from the support member, theintegrated lighting system comprising: a first light emitting elementattached to a first side of the platform; a second light emittingelement attached to a second side of the platform; the first and secondlight emitting elements are electrically connected to the support memberby an electrical connector that connects when the first and second sidesof the platform are attached to the support member; and wherein theelectrical connector automatically connects the first and second lightemitting elements to the support member when the first and second sidesof the platform are attached to the support member.
 12. The lightingsystem of claim 11 wherein the equipment rack further comprises aremovable extension rack having a platform for a bicycle, the integratedlighting system further comprising; a third light emitting element and afourth light emitting element attached to the removable rack extension;an electrical connector that electrically connects the third and fourthlight emitting elements to the support member when the removable rackextension is attached to the support member.
 13. The lighting system ofclaim 12 wherein the equipment rack has a stowed configuration and anoperational configuration, wherein the light emitting element is visiblein the proximity of the vehicle when the equipment rack is in the stowedconfiguration and in the operational configuration.
 14. The lightingsystem of claim 12 wherein the electrical connector automaticallyconnects the third and fourth light emitting elements to the supportmember when the removable rack extension is attached to the supportmember.
 15. An equipment rack with an integrated lighting system forattachment to a motor vehicle, the equipment rack having a base unitconfigured to attach to a motor vehicle, and configured to move from astowed configuration to an operational configuration, the integratedlighting system comprising a first light emitting element fixedlymounted on the base unit; wherein the first light emitting element isvisible from the rear of the vehicle in both the stowed and theoperational configuration; further comprising a rack extensionconfigured to attach to the base unit, the extension unit having asecond light emitting element fixedly mounted on the extension unit;wherein the first light emitting element is visible from the rear of thevehicle in both the stowed and the operational configuration.
 16. Theequipment rack of claim 15 wherein the second light emitting elementautomatically connects to the first light emitting element when theextension unit is attached to the base unit.